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MM&P HOLIDAY CLOSING SCHEDULE

All MM&P port offices, the MM&P Federal Credit Union, the MM&P Plans Office and MM&P Headquarters will be closed on Tuesday, Dec. 24, Wednesday, Dec. 25 and on Wednesday, Jan. 1. In addition, MM&P port offices will be closed on Tuesday, Dec. 31. Happy holidays to all and best wishes for the New Year.

BUDGET DEAL SPARES MARITIME SECURITY PROGRAM-FOR NOW

A bipartisan budget agreement moved forward in Congress on Tuesday, with 67 senators voting to end debate and bring the measure to a final vote. The House of Representatives had approved the agreement last week. The measure delays the mandatory spending cuts which had been scheduled to go into effect in January as part of the law known as “sequestration.” Under the new agreement, Congressional appropriators will be able to individually examine funding levels for the Maritime Security Program (MSP) and other government programs. Mandatory cuts under sequestration could have cost MSP numerous ships.

The new budget deal passed today will allow lawmakers to draft detailed spending plans for the first time in several years. MM&P, MIRAID and other advocates of the U.S.-flag fleet will be working to convince the appropriators that MSP should be fully funded. Our success in correcting a $12 million funding anomaly earlier this year means that the U.S.-flag fleet begins this process at the correct funding level of $186 million.

MM&P SHIPS WIN ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

MM&P-contracted companies won multiple awards at the tenth annual Chamber of Shipping of America Environmental Achievement Awards held in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 12. The event is held to recognize outstanding achievements in environmental safety in the maritime sector. Among the ship operators to receive awards were MM&P-contracted companies including AMNAV Maritime Services, Crowley, Farrell Lines, Foss, Horizon Lines, Maersk Line Limited and Patriot Contract Services.

Presenting the awards was Joseph J. Cox, president and CEO of the Chamber and Shipping of America. “These awards celebrate the dedication to environmental excellence of our seafarers and the company personnel shore side who operate our vessels to the highest standards,” he said. “In today’s world, it seems our industry only gets front-page news when spills or other environmental problems occur. It is encouraging to see how many vessels go for years achieving environmental excellence. It should be clear to the American public that we in the maritime industry take our stewardship of the marine environment very seriously.”

A measure now pending at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) sets guidelines for ship masters to follow in “collecting and preserving evidence” following allegations that a serious crime has been committed on board ship. The measure outlines responsibilities of the ship’s captain during the time period between the report of a possible serious crime and the time when professional crime scene investigators take action.

“It is recognized that the master is not a professional crime-scene investigator and that crew and resources to preserve and collect evidence may be limited depending on the vessel type,” the measure states. However, “the master should attempt to secure the scene of the alleged crime as soon as possible… Where an incident has occurred in a space that cannot be sealed, the master should aim to collect the evidence…”

Under the rule, the master would be expected, for example, “to draw up a list of persons who may have information and invite them to record their recollection of events,” as well as to collect evidence while wearing protective clothing “such as overalls and rubber gloves.” The rule stipulates that all collected items “are to be photographed, identified, labelled and logged at the location found before removal and packaging.”

Examples of labels and packaging materials for many types of evidence are listed. Specifics for collecting samples of blood and other “biohazards” are included, as are techniques for recovering fibers and hair, and preserving or photographing footprints and finger prints. The new rule is posted in its entirety on www.bridgedeck.org under “Breaking News.”

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber announced last week that the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) will assume responsibility for handling refrigerated containers at the Port of Portland. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) had asserted that its members should be allowed to perform the work instead. As the conflict continued, cargo backed up at ports in the Pacific Northwest. “With the resolution of this key dispute, we can keep Terminal 6 a competitive, productive, and internationally attractive container terminal,” Kitzhaber said in an official statement. “This agreement should provide assurance to container companies and businesses around Oregon that the conflict over this work will no longer be a factor in terminal operations.”

APL MARITIME’S U.S. CREWS DONATE $5,779 FOR HURRICANE RELIEF EFFORTS

U.S. crewmembers aboard APL Maritime vessels have donated $5,779 for Typhoon Haiyan relief and support. The funds were submitted directly to the Red Cross. APL/NOL matches the donations 100 percent. “APL Maritime wants to personally thank all the seafarers onboard our U.S.-flag vessels for their generosity and concern,” said APL Director of Operations Mark Remijan.

IMPORTANT: WATCH MM&P’S NEW VIDEO MAGAZINE “NOTICE TO MARINERS”

The latest information on your union’s campaign to save our ships and preserve the U.S. Merchant Marine is now online. To watch the first edition in a series about critical issues facing our members and our industry, go to MM&P’s YouTube channel. This new video can be easily shared with co-workers, friends and neighbors on Facebook, Twitter and using other social media tools.

LAST DAY FOR PROCESSING 2013 VACATION AND PRO PAYMENTS IS DEC. 27

The Plan Office has received approval to close the year-end Internal Revenue Service and company reports and to process Vacation and PRO payments for 2013 no later than Friday, Dec. 27, at 1:00 p.m. EST. All requests for 2013 Vacation and PRO payments received after this date and time will be held until Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014 for processing and payment, and will therefore be taxable in 2014. If you have any questions, contact Ken Ryan at 410-850-8617.

IMPORTANT DATES IN 2014

The MM&P General Executive Board has set the following schedule for 2014 union meetings. The MM&P Convention will be held July 15-16. The Offshore Advisory Committee/General Executive Board (OAC/GEB) will meet: March 25-26; June 24-25; Sept. 16-17; and Nov. 18-19.

Military Sealift Command (MSC) has notified MM&P regarding the need for civilian mariners with designated security duties to comply with the Manila Amendments to STCW. The MSC notice states: “The International Maritime Organization Convention on STCW adopted a new set of amendments in 2010 called ‘The Manila Amendments.’ The Manila Amendments went into effect Jan. 1, 2012. There is a transition period until 2017 when all seafarers must be certified and trained according to the new standards. The implementation is progressive in that every year a modified set of requirements comes into force.”

“For CIVMARs sailing aboard government-owned and -operated vessels, STCW compliance is addressed in an agreement between MSC and the USCG. This agreement provides an exemption from the security rules in the CFR and so compliance with the STCW security provisions by Jan. 1, 2014 is NOT required for CIVMARs sailing aboard MSC vessels. However, MSC has agreed to voluntarily comply with the STCW security provisions although not by Jan. 1, 2014. CIVMARs may obtain security endorsements immediately or wait until they next apply for renewal, upgrade, or additional endorsements.”

If you have questions about this notice, please contact MM&P Government Fleet Representative Randi Ciszewski: rciszewski@bridgedeck.org.

AMAZON WORKERS IN GERMANY STRIKE OVER WAGE AGREEMENT

Hundreds of Amazon.com workers in Germany have walked off the job in an effort to put pressure on the online retail giant to settle on a new wage agreement in the busy days before Christmas. The strike was organized by the trade union Verdi, which counts over 2.2 million members. A spokesperson for the union said the strike will include pickets with American coworkers outside the Amazon headquarters in Seattle.

The union says Amazon employees are paid less than those in other retail and mail-order jobs in Germany. The company counters that its German operations are not retail outlets but “distribution and logistics centers,” and that its workers are paid on the upper end of what workers in that sector generally earn.

STRIKING OIL WORKERS KAZAKHSTAN IN CUSTODY FOR TWO YEARS

A standoff between striking oil workers and the KazMunaiGas Corporation in the western Kazakhstan town of Zhanaozen escalated from a labor dispute into rioting on Dec. 16, 2011. The resulting violence led to 17 deaths and dozens of injuries among workers and bystanders. Thirty-seven people were arrested and tried. Seven remain in custody today. Trade unions in Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Georgia are waging a campaign to obtain their freedom. Please show your support by signing a petition

INTERESTED IN TAKING THE MM&P OFFSHORE FAMILIARIZATION COURSE?

If you are interested in attending the Offshore Familiarization Course, please contact your MM&P Vice President to request that one be scheduled in your area. An Offshore Orientation Course is now scheduled for Los Angeles/Long Beach on March 12-13 and Oct. 8-9. If you are interested in participating in the course, please contact the Los Angeles/Long Beach Hall: 310-834-7201 or 310-834-6667 (fax). There is no sea-time requirement to take the course. All Offshore applicants, potential transferees from other membership groups and other interested Offshore members are encouraged to take the course as soon as possible.

MARITIME LABOR CONVENTION COURSE REMINDER

The 2006 Maritime Labor Convention (MLC) entered into force on Aug. 20. It has been described as the fourth pillar of international shipping regulations along with SOLAS, MARPOL and STCW. The International Labor Organization consolidated a number of previous conventions in MLC 2006. It establishes minimum standards on conditions of employment, accommodations, health and safety, medical care, crew welfare, recruitment, working conditions and social security protection. MLC will be strictly enforced during port state control inspections, including the potential for more detailed inspections and possible detention where hazardous conditions may exist if ships are not to be in compliance. Visit www.mitags-pmi.org for more information or to register for the MLC course.

/ MITAGS ACADEMIC NOTES /

MITAGS needs your current address! Have you moved recently? Did you remember to send MITAGS your new address for communications regarding courses? Please send your current contact information to admissions@mitags.org or to the fax number below.

New dedicated fax line for Admissions only: 1-443-568-1928. For all other MITAGS business, please continue to use: 410-859-5181.

For class availability or information on MITAGS courses and programs, contact Kelly Michielli, Admissions Coordinator, toll-free at 866-656-5568 or by e-mail: admissions@mitags.org. Why not try our on-line calendar to register for class: mitags-pmi.org/courses/calendar

…And remember: If you can’t make the class, make the call. Be courteous, don’t be a “no show.” — Check the MITAGS website at mitags-pmi.org/courses/calendar for course descriptions associated with the course title abbreviations, and schedule revisions.

The MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly is the official electronic newsletter of the International Organization of Masters, Mates, and Pilots, ILA, AFL-CIO, 700 Maritime Blvd. Suite B, Linthicum Heights, MD 21090-1953. Phone: 410-850-8700; Fax: 410-850-0973; Email: iommp@bridgedeck.org. For further info or to subscribe contact Lisa Rosenthal at lrosenthal@bridgedeck.org. The Wheelhouse Weekly is sent via Email to MM&P-contracted vessels at sea and is posted on our web page.